what I do

For over a decade, I’ve been creating spaces that honor and uplift culture, creativity, and memory. I approach this work as a way of holding space and an invitation into my inner world through environments that feel alive and immersive. Many of the spaces I create feel altar-like, where people can gather, reflect, and experience something beyond the surface.

I take pride in creating annual community altar installations for Día de los Muertos in my community, spaces that honor memory, spirit, and remembrance. For nearly eight years, I’ve been leading a Día de la Virgen holiday market and celebration rooted in Barrio Logan, San Diego. It’s not just a market, but a gathering that honors a sacred figure in my community. It’s something I’ve built at a grassroots level, creating something that didn’t previously exist in this way outside of traditional spaces. This celebration and cultural gathering holds space for tradition and collective veneration.

The spaces I create speak to what is happening in real time—the stories of my community, the hard and soft, the beauty, and the resilience. At the heart of it, my curatorial work is about creating spaces where people can feel connected, and in relationship with one another; spaces to remember, to rejoice, and to feel joy.

A big part of my work is rooted in skill-sharing and teaching what I know, and making creative tools more accessible to the communities I serve. I offer a range of printmaking workshops, from small, intimate classes of around 10 people to groups of 30+ participants. I work across generations and skill levels, from youth to teachers, nonprofits to community spaces.

My background in art therapy informs everything I do. Even in my printmaking workshops, I invite participants to slow down, connect with their inner child, and enjoy the process without pressure. I see creativity as an opportunity to release and connect, and I hold space for that in every workshop.

Outside of printmaking, I also facilitate therapeutic art-based social-emotional learning groups with youth and lead inner child workshops that include journaling, reflection, and hands-on making. I adjust my workshop offerings to fit the seasons and community cultural moments, whether themed around holidays or grounded in practices like altar-making.

One of my favorite parts of this work is seeing how surprised people are by what they’re capable of creating. There’s a lot of joy and connection in these spaces, and I’ve had some really special moments facilitating workshops. At the core, my workshops are about more than learning a skill. They’re about building confidence, creating connection, and giving people permission to explore, express, and enjoy the process.

Printmaking is the backbone of my studio practice. It is the foundation that I have built all that I do upon. The process of printmaking has been my therapy, and over time, I’ve come to see it as a reflection of healing. Like the healing process, it is layered and intentional, and we must move through each step to see results.

My print work is rooted in symbolism, inspired by nature, archetypes, and cycles of transformation. It reflects the insights I gain through my own personal growth. Printmaking is a way for me to share my story, and although these are my personal experiences, I’ve come to realize they are also shared experiences. People are drawn to the work because the symbols I use are rooted in collective memory and ancestral symbolism.

Through printmaking, I create original works, multiples, and wearable art, such as my merchandise. Selling my work at festivals, community fairs, and events throughout San Diego and beyond is my bread and butter. Printmaking is truly the foundation that supports everything I create. It is my visual voice, allowing me to share my experiences and my stories with the world